report to the president
Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing that quick actions were being considered to address issues that emerged during Russia’s partial mobilization.
“We all spoke often about the problems faced. There was a fairly rapid response,” he noted. He added that the scale of the tasks was substantial and advised consulting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for more details.
Peskov further announced that Shoigu would brief the head of state, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday. He said the report would be delivered during the ceremony marking the raising of the Russian flag on new ships, with Sergei Avakyants, commander of the Pacific Fleet, also scheduled to present his findings.
Protecting cities from attacks
During the briefing, journalists pressed Peskov on whether major Russian cities, including Moscow, were safeguarded against air strikes. Earlier, a video circulated on social media showing air defense units near Engels in the Saratov region working to counter an unidentified object. The regional governor, Roman Busargin, stated that the air defense system had neutralized the threat near Engels.
When asked, Peskov replied that he would direct the question to other departments, noting that it was not a priority for the presidential administration to discuss at that moment.
Pashinyan’s call
Peskov emphasized that international peacekeepers could participate in Karabakh only with consent from all parties involved. He also highlighted Moscow’s concern about the tensions surrounding the Lachin corridor, the single overland link between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The current tension around the Lachin corridor is of serious concern, and Russia will continue its work with both Yerevan and Baku,” the Kremlin spokesperson stated.
In the context of an informal CIS summit involving Putin and Pashinyan in Saint Petersburg, discussions covered the Nagorno-Karabakh situation in detail. He noted that Moscow intends to persist in mediation efforts to honor tripartite agreements and would keep addressing the Lachin corridor issue with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urged Russia to initiate discussions at the UN Security Council regarding authorizing a Russian peacekeeping presence under UN auspices or inviting an additional multinational force to Karabakh.
According to Pashinyan, the closure of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan violated the tripartite leaders’ 2020 agreement. He also expected Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the situation from the Russian side and to develop a plan to restore traffic flow.
Negotiations with Xi Jinping
Peskov stated that a meeting between President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping was planned for Friday.
“The meeting is arranged for tomorrow morning in Moscow and will begin with a video conference. The connection will be secure between the two heads of state,” he explained.
Peskov said the initial portion would be open to the public, after which the discussions would continue behind closed doors. The agenda would focus on bilateral Russia–China relations, with an emphasis on trade growth and strategic alignment on regional issues.
He added that the leaders would discuss these matters in a framework of strategic partnership, acknowledging the rising volume of trade and the differing priorities that accompany close cooperation.